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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1996)
Online search service speeds up web crawling By Stacey Range ' Staff Reporter Scholars rejoice—the World Wide Wait is over. Internet research that once took hours can now be found in a matter of minutes with this summer’s introduc tion of Study WEB, a free online en cyclopedia of research information sites. Leslie Kenny, marketing coordi nator of American Computer Re sources, which developed the site, said the new program was like a “huge en cyclopedia.” The site offers categories in fine arts, English, mathematics, science and social studies. Once at the Study WEB site, re searchers choose from a list of the five categories as well as others in college information, online dictionaries, news papers and periodicals. The category choice will link to a directory of related topics, which will then link to a list of all sites in that topic. The final list includes a brief description of the information in the site, a grading of the site’s visual con tent and the appropriate ability level of the user. The program was designed to help students and educators spend more time viewing targeted information and less time searching, Kenny said. “When you go into a .search you can crane up with thousands of links that " may or may not have something to do with your topic of interest and it takes a lot of time to weed through all of it,” Kenny said. Linda Roos, manager of user edu cation at the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Information Services, agreed. “There’s a lot of information out there on the web and wading through all the junk is sometimes very difficult,” Roos said. Though Internet search engines are designed to find desired informa tion, they can be too time consuming and general, she said. “Someone once told me they searched for information on Scotland ■ ... 1 u Someone once told me they searched for information on Scotland and they got 7,000 hits, so I tried it in class and we got even more.” Linda Koos UNL’s Information Services and they got 7,000 hits,” Roos said, “so I tried it in class and we got even more.” Since the site went online in May, Kenny said, it has been a success. Sum mer hits averaged 100 a day and Kenny said she expected that number to in crease at the start of the school year. With the start of the school year, many students will be seeking more than research information. They will also be seeking part-time jobs, Kenny ' said. American Computer Resources, a hill-service, international distributor of commercial computer equipment, has hired high school and college students and others familiar with Internet re search to help keep Study WEB up-to date. The weeding process for finding quality information sites to link from the Study WEB has been passed cm to web users across the nation. Students find appropriate links for the site and prepare descriptions of the cents a site. More than 50 work from their homos i said, and Study WEB needs more. “It’s a Herculean effort,” she said. Anyone interested in researching sites could apply by viewing the site’s homepage at <ittpyAvww.the-acr.com/ studyweb/studyweb.html>. I . 466-4131 East Park ■ Buy 2 tans IGet 2 FREE! Base tan in 3 sessions. * Lecture Notes * Course Packets a Resume Services a Copy & Bindery * Fax Services a Laminating r—ty it < —— . ... • •I There is still time to update your teaching materials for this semester. • Include up-to-date information • Publish your original material • Access out-of-print texts • Supply course syllabus, homework assignments, and lab instructions economically to your students! Text from Books, Journals ► Newspapers, Periodicals ► Anthologies and morel ► The Grade A Notes staff is eager to help you create course materials specifically for your class. Let us show you how it can be a quick and relatively painless process. Just give us a call. CALL 477-7400 Grade A Notes at Nebraska Bookstore Lower Level • 13th & Q Street • (402) 477-7400 B I B ■ M M I iB ^B P^B ^B ^PB pi B | I ^B B Join us for great savings storewide on this fall's newest men's and women's clothing, sportswear, and footwear. Hoars Monday-Saturday 10-6 Thursday 10-9 L S“nday 1»-S_; y Drastic Reductions «ml Remaining Sommer Merchandise! Save 50-60-70%J [** Post.** Nickel —- — --r - -irmin, t... ■■ ■■... ,,i ... , Downtown at 14th & P ^-:----A